Schools closing this week

The local school parking lots were empty Monday morning as schools were dismissed as a precaution to avoid a Coronavirus outbreak here.

Blytheville, Armorel, Gosnell, Manila, Riverside, Osceola, Rivercrest and Buffalo Island Central will all remain closed until Monday, March 30; next week is spring break.

Only KIPP Blytheville opened Monday, and it will close beginning Tuesday through March 30.

"The governor’s directive gave districts the option," KIPP's Andy Weld said in a Facebook post. "We are using the time Monday to ensure our students have all the resources they need during this closure, including grab-and-go lunches for any students in need. We are also working with individual families who have questions or concerns about school attendance."

The Blytheville School District was making student meals for pickup Monday and for delivery Tuesday.

Arkansas Northeastern College was open Monday and expected to make a decision for the week that day.

On Sunday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson ordered all public K-12 schools to close beginning Tuesday, but he made Monday optional.

The Mississippi County Library System has closed its doors until March 30 as well.

Arkansas State University announced that campuses will be open the rest of the semester but all classes are cancelled Monday and starting Tuesday all in person instructions will transition to all-online instructions through the end of the spring semester.

Local schools are using Alternative Method of Instruction (AMI) days this week. They are currently allowed up to 10 AMI days. Students were to do AMI Days 1-5 this week.